“I’m excited to see him,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “It’s been a while. This is the day I’ve been waiting for. I like the possibilities of this rotation and now it’s all together with everybody healthy.”

Hamels became big news the day before spring training began in mid-February when he revealed that he was not able to go through his regular winter conditioning program because of an offseason bout of shoulder tendinitis.

Initially, Hamels hoped to miss just a couple of regular-season starts as he regained conditioning time in spring training. An early-March setback pushed Hamels’ schedule back a couple of weeks, but when he finally got on the mound around mid-month he made quick strides. Five minor-league starts later, he’s ready to face the Dodgers in a ballpark where he has had great success.

Including postseason, Hamels has made four starts at Dodger Stadium. He is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in those games. Overall against the Dodgers, Hamels is 6-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 11 starts, including the postseason.